Michele

When I was younger (ahem...!) I went for a ride along in someone's teeny tiny plane (it was a cessna something or other - two seats in front, with one long bench seat in back). I was scared (I'm scared of planes), and we were going to try to get me used to flying around. HAHAHAHAHAaaaa..... So there we were. Smooshed into this little cessna, me and the pilot. We taxi down the runway...turn around...get going....and lift off (o.k., it was a take off, but it felt like a liftoff...)...and as we climb through 100 feet, my door swings open. Plop. Oh shit. I press myself backwards into the seat and sort of over towards the pilot. Pilot looks over, grabs my hand from my lap, puts it on the yoke, and says "pull on this gently but enough to get over the freeway, and lean forward" which I did....He leaned over and shut the door, and then went back to flying the plane. Like I said, it was a really tiny plane. Later on, when it was time for landing, he asked me if I wanted to land the plane, too...I declined. Turns out that the door was shut, but not locked, and I may have nudged something at take-off which opened it. Scared me horribly. Dunno what happened to the pilot, but I do know that doors can come open...mine did, and that was the first and last time I've ridden in that small of a plane. He kept asking me to go again, but I kept telling him I was happy with my feet on the ground. I wonder what he'd think if he knew I was jumping.... He'd have apoplexy! Ceils- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Hi, Indyz and Lummy.. I appreciate your guesses...and that is my belly talk as well...I dunno, I guess I'm kind of with DarkVapor - not sure how I feel, although it doesn't matter...it's his to do with as he pleases, right? So who'm I to make a judgment (good or bad)? Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I'm curious about who the seller is and how they came by the canopy... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Heya, Squeak.... Might just be me...and after all, I haven't got a ton of jumps like these guys do. But hey, I think the 150 would be perfect for you. . . . . . . . . . If you want to jump once and break yourself. A 1.25 wingloading seems a tad aggressive to me, even stepping it down like you describe. Your instructors' rationale is interesting. I gotta say, I would much rather be bored under canopy than overly excited. Granted, being bored under canopy is, well, boring, but given the choices at this point, that's the one I'd rather (and the one I thought I'd have...except my canopy is perfect right where it is, for about the next 200 jumps or 30 lbs, whichever comes first...I am not bored at all). It kinda goes along with the thought that "I'd rather be on the ground wishing I was in the sky than in the sky wishing I was on the ground" You very well may be capable of handling a 1.25 w/l @ 50 jumps. But if the deal of a lifetime is not on the table, then what's the hurry? Last I looked, the sky wasn't going anywhere... And last I looked, they weren't going to stop selling canpies in 2 months either...if it's a matter of saving money because you don't want to rent gear (and yes, it is expensive that way), then look for a used set-up in a 1:1 w/l, and play on that for a while...and then buy new. Why don't you get a bunch of jumps in on the 170 (stepping down cautiously in the meanwhile), and then make the decision? I mean, patience is great - I'd rather see it be voluntary then forced because your leg is in a cast, or worse... As always, this is my (limited) opinion, and worth exactly .02... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

You sure of that? There may have been a scream of horror amongst the shocked gasps and giggles I heard.... (Just playing with the very-young-but-not-so-innocent-since-he-started-hanging-with-Steve Viking...) Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Well, seeing as I have something in escrow unexpectedly (but it won't close til after the first of the year), I may be able to swing this. With that in mind, I bought a sleeping bag today...it's supposed to be good to about 20 degrees (I hope so, because I can't afford the down ones...). I also got an air mattress today - now all I need is a tent. I also took my car in for some well needed maintenance. So, it may actually happen... Just thought I'd mention it. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Morning, Squeak... Good job on passing AFF8... I'd like to pass on something my instructor told me after I "quit" on level 5. As we sat in the bar, and I was cutting myself down, Ed said... How many minutes have you spent in Freefall? Less than 5, I answered. How many minutes do you think those tennis players have played before they walked onto the Wimbledon court? Well, that's different, Ed... Yes, but is it really? He says. You're a student, Michele. Be a student. Learn, learn, learn, but don't wig if you aren't perfect. As long as you land safely, you're perfect enough. I guess what I'm saying is that with low airtime, body position is not going to look like those guys who teach us, or those folks who are close to the top. It's a great goal to have - to be like them - but this shit is hard, and won't come overnight. If they have something like 5,000 minutes in freefall and you have 8, that's like the difference between a baby crawling and Edwin Moses running hurdles...he crawled first, too. Hang in there, let perfection be a successful landing, and the leg position will develop with time and practice. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Please pay attention to details, dearest Treetop....deatils are very important, especially if you're intending to represent someone... Nope. I have been able to make my own decisions for years... Stop laying on the floor laughing, darling Don...your mysogyny shows when you do that..... What is the true pity, I think, is the fact that you've missed a good opportunity to make your position more clear. But perhaps you did just that...as I am a fun jumper, and you seek to represent me, and this is the "well-reasoned response" you provide on a public forum. Further reading on this thread shows that you ignore someone who has asked clear questions (Indyz), and you don't answer publicly so we all can learn, but instead give a phone number. One can't help but realize that you truly don't want to represent the fun jumpers... Returned 10 fold to you and yours, Donn... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Thanks, BV...not yet having my own gear and only watching one reserve repack, I wasn't at all sure. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

So, to you, having sex with someone other than your S/O, outside the agreed parameters in the relationship, and then coming home and telling them "hey, I just had sex/made love with XX" is not cheating? I mean, that's not lying. Or do you mean comission v. omission...ie "forgetting" to tell them, but if asked directly, you've give a truthful answer, so it's not cheating? Or did I totally miss your point, which could be the case (I've got medicine head right now...)... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Stupid question alert! Um, what's a molar strap? Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Hey, Cloudseeder... Nope, that was not HH's longest post, so no beer for you!

I'll get hot chocolate and Bailey's later - but still on the OJ and water for now. Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

San Fernando Valley, California: Beautiful, clear blue with scattered wispy white clouds, light winds from the west. Trees turning color (well, like every 12th one, but still), leaves wafting gently down to green grass. Dogs and people and kids riding bikes and skateboards out enjoying this gorgeous day with the high of about 85...and the night expected to be chilly and brisk, good enough for hot chocolate (with Baileys or Godiva liqueur), a two blanket night following the absolute perfect fall day. Well, maybe I shouldn't push too hard...I was gonna jump tomorrow (which should be a repeat of today), but have a bit of a head cold...and I had to work all day - but at least it was outside...and I stared into the sky, and pretended I was flying... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Well, hah on you then....because I have found more than one which doesn't apply....and that's without stretching for it, too! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

The brainwashing has extended to Pop pulling out all his available cash from the ATM for Dave at T A&M... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Yeah, well, I suppose, because "it's friday night and y'all ain't got anything better to do", we can attribute this "brainwashing" to some, ah, extracurricular activites.... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Hi, Misskriss... I have two questions here.... 1. What would you do if you found your husband (I hate the term S/O) doing exactly the same thing as you..."talking"...? Would you be fine with it? Would it hurt you? Would it be a violation of your trust inhim? I have often found that imagining swapping places and the results really clarifies what the truth is for me. 2. Do you want others' opinions, or are you just putting this out for general discussion? I asked #2 because if it is for general discussion, I'll give my opinion freely and without reservation...but if it is not rhetorical, then I am not sure I am in a genuine position to do so, because everyone's relationships are different, with different boundaries, expectations, needs, joys and problems. (Edited to be totally honest here, as well...I am not sure my opinion would be impartial, because my ex had an affair, which started on-line...) Whichever, I hope you find the info you're looking for.... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Hi, Outofit... Neither (or none) of the current women you are with will make you happy. If one of them was "the one" to settle with, you wouldn't have this as a question. They (either or both) may be exactly right for you...you just may be the one who's not ready for that. And love does exist. I see it all around me. I have felt it. And while it is not part of my life at the moment, I believe strongly that it will come in again. OTOH, you are drinking a bit tonight, IIRC... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Well, I'm bored, at work, and sick. So there. Nyah... Lisa - most excellent! That is a kewlio photo, and I just explained how come I'm not in it to my title rep... Good deal! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Thanks, Chivo, it's no fun Soup, water, and then more sleep But I have to work! Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

A single cloud floats In the bright blue autumn sky I dream I'm the cloud Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

I've got the sniffles And some congestion as well So I will stay home.... Ciels- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~

Hey, my friend. I have a recent experience with a friend suiciding in late August. The note has got to be really, really tough. If I had the same thing happen, I'd take the note, and tuck it away somewhere safe. Maybe give it to my Dad to hold on to until I could handle it. Then I'd get the grieving thing going - however it works for you. Someday in the future, you will smile when you think of her, you will be amazed at the strength of your memories. And then, when you are ready, you will be able to deal with the note in a manner which brings you the joy she did. Hang in there. And as Lisa said, pm me should you need to talk. Ciels and hugs- Michele ~Do Angels keep the dreams we seek While our hearts lie bleeding?~